Express Monorail Problems..

[Timon]

The irony is that while the Epcot beam is about 10 years younger, I hear its in worse shape than the original beam around Seven Seas Lagoon. :hammer:

You're right though about the "track record" of monorail lines. I was thinking about how Disneyland has made it about 50 years now with no major problems (of course, their line is much shorter and the weather conditions are bit less extreme, but even still). And if the WDW beams were made along the lines of the beams in your Vegas pic, then they should be able to stick around for a good number of years still; thats A LOT of rebar!

Seattle has crappy weather too, and the occasional freeze. In Japan where Hatachi has built huge full size monorail systems since the 60's they have to deal with earthquakes and haven't had any problems.

Fun stuff:

Inside a Japanese monorail - You can walk the length of the train while it moves!

Latest Bombardier Mark VI - Las Vegas version - Automated, no pilot

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

For me, this is no different than having an overpass or bridge collapse on World Dr. Look at it this way: if a something were to collapse on World Dr. (say the Osceola Pkwy bridge), would Disney forever close it off and declare it inoperable? No, they would (I'd like to think) take the time and money to fix it because its a main crossroads through the resort.

The monorail isn't an attraction; its a transportation system and thus part of the infrastructure of the resort. At peak times, the Express and Resort Lines must be transporting at least ten to twelve thousand passengers in an hour. How would you replace the loss of the system? Buses back and forth between the MK and the MK resorts? Parking trams up and down World Dr. to/from the TTC? Its just not a long term viable thing. When a road crumbles, you fix it. The beamway is the "road" for the monorail, and since the monorail is an integral part of the transportation structure of the resort, it can't simply be left vacant. :shrug:

Exactly. and it's something that Disney premiered here. I doubt it would go away.

Also remember that River Country was tucked away in an out of the way place.

They did not have to demo the whole place. Simply shutter the place and put up some fencing. Nobody sees it unless they wander over there or rent a boat.

On the other hand, Disney would have to remove just about all of the beamway (at quite a cost) or else anbody approaching MK or EPCOT would be reminded of the monoral that once was.

-dave

Right, but RC was never a iconic attraction. Apples and Oranges...to me at least.:lookaroun:lol:

The only boat that i refuse to take since my grandmother could move faster is the boat from Epcot to DHS. Holy Cow. It seemed the boat went idle speed since the stops were so close in proximity. Stops at BC, S&D then to DHS.... that ride was torturous.

YES!:brick:

UGH...DHS to EPCOT...I could have jumped off the boat, swam ashore, walked, dried off and been in EPCOT before the boat got there.:brick:

(Hate that boat...:lol::lookaroun)

The only place I noticed as being too warm was the cab. Might just act like a greenhouse. Maybe a former Pilot can speak to that. I would think a packed train would overwhelm the AC. I usually find myself on the Resort line with light crowds so I haven't had to battle sweaty tourists.

Did a video shoot once on a monorail and darn near froze to death, even with lights! OK it was February with the AC on.

Seattle has crappy weather too, and the occasional freeze. In Japan where Hatachi has built huge full size monorail systems since the 60's they have to deal with earthquakes and haven't had any problems.

Fun stuff:

Inside a Japanese monorail - You can walk the length of the train while it moves!

Latest Bombardier Mark VI - Las Vegas version - Automated, no pilot

OOOH...That bottom one would make a nice replacement for our fleet. Still looks futuristic while not being overly retro like DL's.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Seattle has crappy weather too, and the occasional freeze. In Japan where Hatachi has built huge full size monorail systems since the 60's they have to deal with earthquakes and haven't had any problems.

Fun stuff:

Inside a Japanese monorail - You can walk the length of the train while it moves!

Latest Bombardier Mark VI - Las Vegas version - Automated, no pilot

Ah, true. Seattle does have those issues as far as monorails go.

Nice pics there too. I think the next WDW monorails will be similar to the one you show in Japan in that there won't be any dividers between the cabs in order to increase capacity. Although, those divides do act as firewalls, so in a sense they're a safety precaution, but I suppose that could easily be overcome considering new structural materials and building methods. :shrug:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Ah, true. Seattle does have those issues as far as monorails go.

Nice pics there too. I think the next WDW monorails will be similar to the one you show in Japan in that there won't be any dividers between the cabs in order to increase capacity. Although, those divides do act as firewalls, so in a sense they're a safety precaution, but I suppose that could easily be overcome considering new structural materials and building methods. :shrug:

That would work nicely...:lookaroun

 

[CaptainMichael]

Yeah, you could probably walk there faster, heh.

I've done it before. It's much better.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

I've done it before. It's much better.

Yeah, nice scenery...All the resorts.

 

[Timon]

Ah, true. Seattle does have those issues as far as monorails go.

Nice pics there too. I think the next WDW monorails will be similar to the one you show in Japan in that there won't be any dividers between the cabs in order to increase capacity. Although, those divides do act as firewalls, so in a sense they're a safety precaution, but I suppose that could easily be overcome considering new structural materials and building methods. :shrug:

Sadly the Hatachi design is a taller full size commercial monorail to hide the drive wheels which allows the walk thru cabins. Because of the tall design the Hatachi trains would never fit through the Contemporary without removing the rooms over the station. Plus they run on a wider beam, and need higher voltage power.

As for saftey the Hatachi trains are unmatched, simply run to either end of the train and exit from the front facing door directly to the beam or into a rescue train. No roof hatches, hand rails or ropes and other scary things.

Bombardier has a new walk thru hallway design for the next version monorail which goes around the drive wheels. But this could be for a full size train on a bigger beam.

I would change the Las Vegas nose design for better viewing. The Vegas nose has no driver or passengers.

 

[Figment632]

Thats cool but all I want is for a fleet that looks like the ones from DL, I understand that the tracks are different but that doesnt mean they cant look the sam on the inside and out.

 

[nolatron]

Thats cool but all I want is for a fleet that looks like the ones from DL, I understand that the tracks are different but that doesnt mean they cant look the sam on the inside and out.

There's only one new monorail at DL. All the others are the same previous models they used. Not like the entire DL fleet was replaced. Just pointing that out.

 

[Figment632]

There's only one new monorail at DL. All the others are the same previous models they used. Not like the entire DL fleet was replaced. Just pointing that out.

No there is two new that I saw just 2 weeks ago monorail blue, and orange. They dont have a fleet there are only two.

 

[Timon]

There's only one new monorail at DL. All the others are the same previous models they used. Not like the entire DL fleet was replaced. Just pointing that out.

Disneyland has three new Mark VII trains Red, Blue & Orange. The four old Mark V trains have been removed. The chassis of three Mark V trains have been reconditioned and reused for the new Mark VII trains. Because of issues with overheated cabins (nop AC), window modifications are in progress leaving some trains in the shop.

 

[Figment632]

Disneyland has three new Mark VII trains Red, Blue & Orange. The four old Mark V trains have been removed. The chassis of three Mark V trains have been reconditioned and reused for the new Mark VII trains. Because of issues with overheated cabins (nop AC), window modifications are in progress leaving some trains in the shop.

Good to know thanks :wave:

 

[hardcard]

No there is two new that I saw just 2 weeks ago monorail blue, and orange. They dont have a fleet there are only two.

Actually, there are 3....



The first Mark VII monorail, Red, was delivered to Disneyland on December 20, 2007.[4] It began service on July 3, 2008.
The second Mark VII, Blue, was delivered to Disneyland on April 10, 2008. It began service September 16, 2008.
The Third Mark VII, Orange, was delivered to Disneyland on August 14, 2008. It began service on April 7, 2009.

For those that don't know...The Mark VII is actually a refurbished Mark III.

 

[nolatron]

Disneyland has three new Mark VII trains Red, Blue & Orange. The four old Mark V trains have been removed. The chassis of three Mark V trains have been reconditioned and reused for the new Mark VII trains. Because of issues with overheated cabins (nop AC), window modifications are in progress leaving some trains in the shop.

Well shizaam. Guess I'm a little behind on the DL news thanks for the update yall on that.

 

[joel_maxwell]

YES!:brick:

UGH...DHS to EPCOT...I could have jumped off the boat, swam ashore, walked, dried off and been in EPCOT before the boat got there.:brick:

(Hate that boat...:lol::lookaroun)

Live and learn i guess. The one and only time.

Timon, good stuff. Thanks

 

[hardcard]

Disneyland has three new Mark VII trains Red, Blue & Orange. The four old Mark V trains have been removed. The chassis of three Mark V trains have been reconditioned and reused for the new Mark VII trains. Because of issues with overheated cabins (nop AC), window modifications are in progress leaving some trains in the shop.

Technically they are refurbed Mark III's , because the Mark V's were originally reconditioned from the Mark III chassis.... so, this is the third life for the Mark III chassis..

 

[VillanovaBlue]

Yeah, you could probably walk there faster, heh.

I have done exactly that a couple of times...and waved at the boat as we passed it by...

 

[Timon]

Technically they are refurbed Mark III's , because the Mark V's were originally reconditioned from the Mark III chassis.... so, this is the third life for the Mark III chassis..

You are correct although it makes me pause to think about that 1969-ish chassis under there. I also wish they kept the monorail count up at four trains seems kinda foolish. Or better yet keep an old Mark V and change it into a party train with tables and drinks! Wahooo!

 

[JWG]

Not to mention that if it was left unattended for some time, structural integrity would prove a problem. The liability of falling chunks of concrete anyone? Yeah, that would look great as you drive into the MK or walk through Epcot. :dazzle: :lol:

So, the "real" replica of burning rome...

All those classes in reinforced concrere design just came flooding back to me

-dave

So, what you're saying is, they need to fix it... You know too much about concrete, too!

Yeah, you could probably walk there faster, heh.

Epcot to DHS or vice-versa is faster walking than boating depending on your pace. I've left the International Gateway at the same time as a boat and have beat it to DHS at a slightly faster than average clip but by no means a power walk.

Actually, there are 3....



The first Mark VII monorail, Red, was delivered to Disneyland on December 20, 2007.[4] It began service on July 3, 2008.
The second Mark VII, Blue, was delivered to Disneyland on April 10, 2008. It began service September 16, 2008.
The Third Mark VII, Orange, was delivered to Disneyland on August 14, 2008. It began service on April 7, 2009.

For those that don't know...The Mark VII is actually a refurbished Mark III.

Is there a plan to add back a 4th in Disneyland? Orange is "purty".

 

[hardcard]

Is there a plan to add back a 4th in Disneyland? Orange is "purty".

No.... Monorail Purple (the last of the Mark III chasis) has been stripped for parts for the other 3 trains...